American Fork police have become part of a viral dispute over a Lego collection that is being described online as worth $200,000 and tied to a “Star Wars” haul. The controversy centers on claims that Bryan Mansell’s family collection was not returned after it was left at a Bricks and Minifigs franchise in Oregon under a consignment agreement.
The story spread through videos posted by Ben Schneider, who is known on YouTube as Reckless Ben and has been helping Mansell press the case online and in court. Those videos allege that when corporate control changed and the store later came under a new owner based in American Fork, Mansell did not get his Legos or his money back.
How the online fight escalated
Schneider’s videos show a campaign that has gone far beyond ordinary complaints about a business dispute. He has spoken with employees, filed multiple small-claims lawsuits, placed large banners on the company’s sign, and even handed the store an award for “most Legos stolen.”
He also created a satirical company called “We Steal From Old People,” using a logo that places the phrase under the Bricks and Minifigs name. In another move, he traveled to American Fork to confront one of the company’s owners at home.
A fundraiser Schneider set up for Mansell after other options fell through has already brought in more than $250,000. The videos are still being released, and they continue to fuel strong reaction from viewers across social media.
Why police were drawn in
A video posted Saturday focused on the American Fork Police Department after multiple calls made by one of the company’s owners, Josh Johnson. Schneider said he was trying to have a good-faith conversation and serve papers required by an Oregon court before starting a lawsuit.
Johnson called police more than once as Schneider sent people to speak with him, according to the video. American Fork Police Chief Cameron Paul later responded publicly and said the online clips were “presented in a way that calls into question some of the actions of our department.”
Paul reviewed four case numbers tied to calls made to police from March 9 through March 12 and explained why officers responded in each instance. He said the department’s role was not to judge the business dispute itself, but to enforce Utah law.
Charges and the police response
Paul said officers twice decided to arrest Schneider, and he was later charged on March 27 with stalking, a class A misdemeanor, and targeted residential picketing, a class B misdemeanor. He stressed that a person’s belief that they were financially wronged does not excuse conduct that falls under harassment, trespassing, stalking or related laws.
“The fact that someone may have believed they were wronged financially does not exempt any individual from the laws governing harassment, trespassing, stalking or other conduct within our jurisdiction,” Paul said. He added that the department’s actions should not be read as support for either side of the separate dispute.
The police video has drawn heavy attention online and has more than 425,000 views. Thousands of comments on the department’s post and Facebook page reportedly side with Schneider, and a fake American Fork Police Department account has also appeared online.
New claims from Schneider
Schneider has continued to push back against police, saying officers lied about hurting his arm during a search of his Airbnb and about his car failing to stop at a stop sign. He said body camera video showed the vehicle made a complete stop.
He also said he told police that he was trying to meet the requirements for filing an Oregon lawsuit and that Johnson, not him, was the one who committed wrongdoing. In his view, the more the issue continues, the more content it creates.
Schneider ended the video with the line, “let’s find Bryan’s Legos.” In a later update, he said his next video would include allegations that he committed a felony, though no felony charge has been filed against him in Utah courts.
The company’s counterclaim
Bricks and Minifigs and its owners responded in court with a lawsuit filed in Utah’s 4th District Court on May 27. The suit seeks more than $300,000 and accuses Schneider, Mansell and others of defamation, disparagement, conspiracy, stalking, trespass and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The company has said the collection’s value was overstated and was closer to $60,000 or $80,000. At the same time, the franchise’s social media accounts had described the collection as worth “well over $200,000” in November 2024.
Bricks and Minifigs says evidence shows most of the Lego sets were sold before corporate took back the franchise, while other inventory was stored offsite and never reached the new owners. The company also said it closed the Oregon location because staff members faced stalking and bomb threats linked to the viral videos.
In a FAQ section, the company said, “We want to help the family; we will not reward a toxic online circus.” Mansell has said in Schneider’s videos that he was never offered the Legos and that many of the sets were still in the store when they visited.
What happens next
The lawsuit says the former franchise owner, Chrystal Law, was behind on payments when the store was taken back and did not cooperate during the handover. It also says Mansell arrived after the franchise changed hands, but his inventory list did not include any Lego sets currently in the store.
According to the company’s filing, police later determined Mansell had “insufficient evidence of ownership.” Schneider’s next hearing on the misdemeanor charges is set for July 1, and at the last hearing he was granted permission to represent himself.
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